Patrick E. McKnight, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Psychology | George Mason University


Research Impact

Metric Value
Total Citations 17,454
h-index 62
i10-index 108
Publications 90+

Updated 2026-01-29 via Google Scholar

Research Contributions by Area

Publication Timeline

Most Cited Works

Research Areas: Quantitative Methods, Missing Data, Measurement, Purpose in Life, Curiosity, Health Psychology


Education

  • Ph.D. in Psychology (Clinical), University of Arizona, 1997 — Dissertation: Calibration of Psychological Measures: An illustration of three quantitative calibration procedures. Chair: Lee Sechrest, Ph.D.

  • M.S. in Exercise and Sports Sciences, University of Arizona, 1992 — Thesis: The effects of cohesion and identifiability on social loafing. Chair: Jean M. Williams, Ph.D.

  • B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, University of Notre Dame, 1988


Academic Positions

  • Associate Professor, George Mason University, 2011–Present ⭐

  • Advisory Board Member, Sense about Science USA, 2015–Present

  • Consultant, McKnight Consulting, LLC, 2005–Present

  • Assistant Professor, George Mason University, 2005–2011

  • Research Assistant Professor, University of Arizona, 2002–2005

  • Health Sciences Specialist, VA Puget Sound Health Care System, 1999–2001

  • Psychology Resident, University of Washington, 1998–1999


Books

  • McKnight, P.E., McKnight, K.M., Sidani, S. & Figueredo, A.J. (2007). Missing Data: A Gentle Introduction. New York: Guilford Press. [3,200 citations]

  • Bootzin, R.R. & McKnight, P.E. (Eds) (2006). Strengthening Research Methodology: Psychological Measurement and Evaluation. Washington: American Psychological Association. [6 citations]


Selected Publications

2025

  • McKnight, P.E., Kashdan, T.B., MacKay, A., Kelso, K., & Gross, M. (2025). Purpose and happiness: A comparison. Journal of Positive Psychology.

  • Kashdan, T.B., McKnight, P.E., Kelso, K., Craig, L., Guenoun, B., & Naughton, C. (2025). Multiple dimensions of workplace curiosity: Evidence of generalizability in nine countries. Personality and Individual Differences.

  • Blanco-Donoso, Torio, L., Hurtado, M., Lecuona, O., Carmona-Cobo, I., Kashdan, T.B., McKnight, P.E., & Garrosa, E. (2025). Spanish adaptation of the Multidimensional Workplace Curiosity Scale. Acta Psychologica.

2024

  • Jackson, K.M., Thayer, S.C., Simpson, K.L., Shaw, T.H., McKnight, P.E., & Helton, W.S. (2024). Swimming with a head-mounted display: dual-task costs. Ergonomics, 1-10.

  • Kashdan, T.B., Kaufman, J.C., & McKnight, P.E. (2024). The costs of curiosity and creativity: Minimizing the downsides while maximizing the upsides. Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 47, e105.

2023

  • Kashdan, T.B., Goodman, F.R., McKnight, P.E., Brown, B., & Rum, R. (2023). Purpose in life: A resolution on the definition, conceptual model, and optimal measurement. American Psychologist. [50 citations]

  • Dang, J.A., Shaw, T.H., McKnight, P.E., & Helton, W.S. (2023). A closer look at warning cues on the sustained attention to response task performance. Human Factors, 65, 1793-1803. [5 citations]

  • Harwood, A.E., Satterfield, K., Helton, W.S., McKnight, P.E., & Shaw, T.H. (2023). The Role of State and Trait Self-Control on the Sustained Attention to Response Task. Human Factors. [2 citations]

2022

  • Lockhart, P.B., Thornhill, M.H., Zhao, J., et al. & McKnight, P.E. (2022). Factors that affect dentists’ use of antibiotic prophylaxis. Journal of the American Dental Association. [10 citations]

  • Kashdan, T.B., McKnight, P.E., & Goodman, F.R. (2022). Evolving positive psychology: A blueprint for advancing the study of purpose in life, psychological strengths, and resilience. Journal of Positive Psychology, 17, 210-218. [45 citations]

  • Dang, J.A., Shaw, T.H., McKnight, P.E., & Helton, W.S. (2022). A closer look at warning cues on the sustained attention to response task performance. Human Factors. [5 citations]

2021

  • McKnight, P.E., Kidd, J.K., Gallington, D.A., Strauss, L.I., Lyu, H., Gadzichowski, K.M., & Pasnak, R. (2021). The Efficacy of Teaching Advanced Forms of Patterning to Kindergartners. Creative Education, 12, 557. [5 citations]

2020

  • Kashdan, T.B., Disabato, D.J., Goodman, F.R., & McKnight, P.E. (2020). The Five-Dimensional Curiosity Scale Revised (5DCR): Briefer subscales while separating overt and covert social curiosity. Personality and Individual Differences, 157, 109836. [280 citations]

  • Kashdan, T.B., Goodman, F.R., Disabato, D.J., McKnight, P.E., Kelso, K., & Naughton, C. (2020). Curiosity has comprehensive benefits in the workplace. Personality and Individual Differences, 155, 109717. [195 citations]

  • Kashdan, T.B., Disabato, D.J., Goodman, F.R., Doorley, J.D., & McKnight, P.E. (2020). Understanding psychological flexibility: A multimethod exploration of pursuing valued goals despite the presence of distress. Psychological Assessment, 32, 829. [120 citations]

  • Kashdan, T.B., Disabato, D.J., McKnight, P.E., Kelso, K.C., Lauber, M., & Goodman, F.R. (2020). Sexual assault: Exploring real-time consequences the next day and in subsequent days. International Journal of Wellbeing, 10. [15 citations]

  • Gonçalves, S.F., Chaplin, T.M., López Jr, R., et al. & McKnight, P.E. (2020). High-Frequency Heart Rate Variability and Emotion-Driven Impulse Control Difficulties During Adolescence. Journal of Early Adolescence. [25 citations]

  • Lockhart, P.B., Thornhill, M.H., Zhao, J., et al. & McKnight, P.E. (2020). Prophylactic antibiotic prescribing in dental practice. Journal of the American Dental Association, 151, 770-781. [35 citations]

2019

  • Doorley, J.D., Kashdan, T.B., Alexander, L.A., Blalock, D.V., & McKnight, P.E. (2019). Distress tolerance in romantic relationships: A daily diary exploration with methodological considerations. Motivation and Emotion, 43, 505-516. [25 citations]

  • Fontana, M., Eckert, G.J., Keels, M.A., et al. & McKnight, P. (2019). Predicting Caries in Medical Settings: Risk Factors in Diverse Infant Groups. Journal of Dental Research, 98, 68-76. [45 citations]

  • Curby, T., McKnight, P., Alexander, L., & Erchov, S. (2019). Sources of variance in end-of-course student evaluations. Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education. [15 citations]

2018

  • Kashdan, T.B., Stiksma, M.C., Disabato, D.D., McKnight, P.E., Bekier, J., Kaji, J., & Lazarus, R. (2018). The five-dimensional curiosity scale: Capturing the bandwidth of curiosity and identifying four unique subgroups of curious people. Journal of Research in Personality, 73, 130-149. [520 citations]

  • Yarbro, J.L., & McKnight, P.E. (2018). An introduction to cost-effectiveness acceptability curves. Clinical Practice in Pediatric Psychology, 6, 179. [8 citations]

  • Bock, A.M., Cartwright, K.B., McKnight, P.E., et al. & Pasnak, R. (2018). Patterning, reading, and executive functions. Frontiers in Psychology, 9, 1802. [45 citations]

2017

  • Alexander, L.A., McKnight, P.E., Disabato, D.J., & Kashdan, T.B. (2017). When and How to use Multiple Informants to Improve Clinical Assessments. Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment. [35 citations]

  • Kashdan, T.B., Blalock, D.V., Young, K.C., Machell, K.A., Monfort, S.S., McKnight, P.E., & Ferssizidis, P. (2017). Personality Strengths in Romantic relationships. Psychological Assessment. [65 citations]

  • Kashdan, T.B., Goodman, F.R., Stiksma, M., Milius, C.R., & McKnight, P.E. (2017). Sexuality Leads to Boosts in Mood and Meaning in Life. Emotion. [45 citations]

  • Monfort, S.S., Graybeal, J.J., Harwood, A.E., McKnight, P.E., & Shaw, T.H. (2017). A single-item assessment for remaining mental resources: development and validation of the Gas Tank Questionnaire. Theoretical Issues in Ergonomics Science. [25 citations]

  • Bono, G., Froh, J.J., Disabato, D., Blalock, D., McKnight, P., & Bausert, S. (2017). Gratitude’s role in adolescent antisocial and prosocial behavior: A 4-year longitudinal investigation. Journal of Positive Psychology. [55 citations]

2016

  • de Visser, E.J., Monfort, S.S., McKendrick, R., Smith, M.A.B., McKnight, P.E., Krueger, F., & Parasuraman, R. (2016). Almost Human: Anthropomorphism Increases Trust Resilience in Cognitive Agents. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Applied. [280 citations]

View all 81 publications on Google Scholar →


Research Funding

Total Research Funding: $6,890,206

  • Crowdsourcing forecast models in intelligence (PI: Georghe Tecuci)
    IARPA | Co-Investigator | 2016–2021

  • Distinguishing extraordinarily happy from psychologically flexible people (PI: Todd Kashdan)
    Koch Foundation | Co-Investigator ($248,000) | 2016–2021

  • Evaluation and Review of ONR Immersive Training Environments
    Office of Naval Research (ONR) | Principal Investigator ($899,577) | 2014–2016

  • Diagnosis and prediction of mild traumatic brain injury (PI: Judith Babcock-Parziale)
    VA Health Services Research and Development | Co-Investigator | 2009–2012

  • Advancing Outcomes Measurement and Micro-costing in Blind Rehabilitation
    VA Health Services Research and Development | Co-Investigator ($550,080) | 2006–2010

  • Trait and State Frontal Brain Asymmetry in Depression
    NIH-NIMH | Co-Investigator ($1,869,813) | 2004–2009

  • Multidimensional Intervention in Osteoarthritis
    NIAMS | Co-Investigator ($2,630,000) | 2003–2007

  • Comprehensive Plan to Insure Capacity for Screening and Early Detection of Colorectal Cancer in Arizona
    Arizona Department of Health Services | Co-Investigator ($275,000) | 2004–2006

  • Positive Mental Health and Outcomes in Osteoarthritis
    Arthritis Foundation | Co-Investigator ($313,500) | 2002–2006

  • Tucson Energy Baseline Study
    Department of Energy / TMEC | Principal Investigator ($19,000) | 2001–2002

  • Calibration of Measures for Assessing Low-Vision Rehabilitation Patients
    VA Rehabilitation Research and Development | Co-Investigator ($85,236) | 2001–2003


Teaching

Graduate Courses

  • PSYC 611: Introductory Statistics and Methods I
  • PSYC 612: Introductory Statistics and Methods II
  • PSYC 642: General Linear Modeling I
  • PSYC 643: General Linear Modeling II
  • PSYC 754: Multiple Regression
  • PSYC 757: Bayesian Data Analysis
  • PSYC 734: Measurement & Study of Peak Performance

Undergraduate Courses

  • PSYC 301: Introductory Statistics
  • PSYC 325: Psychopathology
  • PSYC 405: Mystery, Madness, and Murder

Doctoral Students

Current

  • Amrote Getu, George Mason University
  • Kristin Carpenter, George Mason University
  • Amie MacKay, George Mason University
  • Dan Singer, George Mason University

Graduated (18)

  • Dean Cisler, George Mason University, 2024
  • Kara Massick, George Mason University, 2024
  • Amanda Harwood, George Mason University, 2020
  • Michael Waltrip, George Mason University, 2020
  • Lisa Alexander, George Mason University, 2019
  • Max Shear, George Mason University, 2018
  • Simone Erchov, George Mason University, 2017
  • Jake Quartuccio, George Mason University, 2017
  • Sam Monfort, George Mason University, 2017
  • John Graybeal, George Mason University, 2016
  • Dan Blalock, George Mason University, 2016
  • Jessica Yarbro, George Mason University, 2016
  • Julius Najab, George Mason University, 2013
  • Mei Kuang Chen, University of Arizona, 2008
  • Michael Menke, University of Arizona, 2005
  • Kim Bissel, University of Arizona, 2001
  • Richard Lane, University of Arizona, 2000
  • Opher Caspi, University of Arizona, 2000

Technical Skills

Statistical Software: R, SAS, SPSS, Python, Stan, JAGS, Julia

SEM/IRT: lavaan, Mplus, EQS, LISREL, Onyx, Mx, mirt, ltm, Winsteps, Multilog, Bilog

Programming: R, Python, C/C++, Fortran, Julia, SQL, LaTeX, Quarto, Shiny


Beyond Academia

Mountaineering: Everest (2018), Aconcagua (2017), Denali (2011)

Marathon Swimming: English Channel, Catalina Channel, 20 Bridges Manhattan

  • Triple Crown of Marathon Swimming - Fastest Known Time (34 days)
  • Ranked Top 50 Most Adventurous Open Water Swimmers
  • 10th Member of Peak & Pond Club (2018)

Triathlon: Canadian Ironman (10:03)

Erdős Number: 6